So, I’ll start out by telling you why I decided to write this post.

I was at a shopping mall, and I saw a woman testing an eau de toilette. She sprayed a bit it the air – made a funny face – put the bottle down and left the counter.

Her mistake – she made a snap decision and walked away too soon.

Finding your signature scent.

It can be a little overwhelming walking to a beauty counter, with the amount of scents you have to choose from. For the most part it is a trial-and-error experience, ending up either with something you love or another bottle that will go in a box in your closet.

I used to wear Dolce & Gabanna (red cap) eau de toilette until they decided to discontinue it – sigh. Now I wear Chanel’s Chance Eau Tendre eau de toilette.

Oddly enough, my mother’s signature scent is Chanel No.5 eau du parfum.

I L-O-V-E the way Chance smells on me and I get random compliments from family, friends and stranger all the time. So I know it’s a keeper.

So this post is going to help you avoid wasting anymore money and maybe gain a few more compliments in the process.

Quick guide to notes

Scent notes, not musical notes.

TOP NOTE: This is the strongest scent you’ll smell when you first spray a perfume, and it fades within 15 minutes.

MIDDLE NOTE aka HEART NOTE: This is the body of the perfume, the prominent smell – it lasts for a few hours.

BOTTOM NOTE: This is the best part, the rich scent that lingers until the end of the day. This is what counts the most.

Spray and step away.

I didn’t mean for that to rhyme.

Spritz 2-3 different options (wrists or inside of your elbows) on your body and then leave the perfume counter. This will give you a better sense of how it will smell in day-to-day life.

Wait 30 minutes so you have a much better idea of how it will smell on your skin.

Now you can make your decision – hopefully there will be an overwhelming favorite!

DID YOU KNOW?

Your diet, hormones and pH balance of your skin all affect the way a scent will smell on you.

QUICK TIPS

How do you make your perfume last longer?

Don’t keep it in a damp or warm place. I keep mine in my bedroom, away from the windows.

When spritzing perfume, what are the pulse points on your body?

  • Your neck.
  • Wrists – don’t rub your wrists together afterwards – it crushes the scent.
  • Inside your elbows.
  • Below your midriff.
  • Behind your knees.
  • Your ankles an calves.